29.8.2008

Kanthan, a leader of LTTE in Batticaloa, who was arrested by Special Task Force (STF) yesterday (28) with a cache of arms committed suicide by drowning himself in Batticaloa lagoon while travelling in a boat with STF to show another hideout of LTTE weapons.

Police Media Spokesman Ranjith Gunasekara said that Kanthan was arrested with a large cache of arms, ammunition and other military gear. They included; a claymore, two T-56 rifles, 475 numbers of T-59 ammunition, three magazines, 29 numbers of 9mm rounds, two hand grenades, a camouflage LTE uniform, shirts, Army uniforms and a large stock of medicine.

Another cache of arms was recovered last evening following information obtained from Kanthan. He promised to show another stock of arms and when STF was taking him to the hideout he jumped into the lagoon and drowned himself, police said.

LeN